Metaphors and Pragmatics: An Introduction to the Hermeneutics of Metaphors in the Epistle to the Ephesians

This article seeks first to understand recent methodological discussions in metaphor research in the context of biblical and theological studies. Metaphors are complex literary devices that require familiarity with the world view and historical context of the respective author of a particular ancient text and also communicate on an experiential level. The multiplicity and polyvalence of metaphors together with their ability to create tension requiring reorientation make them ideal rhetorical tools. In this sense metaphors connect perfectly with pragmatics, which does not focus upon form, significance, sounds, or structure but, rather, upon the strategies that authors employ to communicate effectively. Based upon these considerations, a metaphor map of the Epistle to the Ephesians is drawn, recognizing ten main metaphors with many more connected submetaphors. Finally, the study presents a concise evaluation of the metaphor map, focusing upon authorial strategies and the main metaphorical components such as “family,” “body,” and “position.”